HERE ARE SIX THINGS TO DO IN 2006 TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
1. Hire someone to do all the stuff you spend time on that keeps you from having enough time to work on improving your marketing. I use a bevy of Virtual Assistants, web designers and programmers to sort email, submit articles, build web pages and f.ree up my time to develop products and improve my own marketing.
When you stop doing mundane time consuming tasks you'll have more time for the fun and more rewarding ones. I've found some great virtual assistants with these resources.
International Association of Virtual Office Assistants
http://www.iavoa.comThe Virtual Business Group
http://www.virtualbizgroup.comCanadian Virtual Assistant Connection
http://www.cvac.ca/2. Listen to Your Prospects and Clients
Each time a prospect or client asks a question, write it down. Review these each week for new product ideas and for informational reports you could provide for free. You can use each client encounter to get ideas on how to even better serve your clients. Use these ideas and your clients will love you and your products and services.
3. Develop New Products by Thinking Outside of the Box
Set aside 10-20% of your time to develop new product and marketing ideas. Identify a problem your clients have and solve it with your products and services. When you do, even more clients will seek you out and you'll sell more to existing clients. Need help thinking outside of the box? Here are some of my favorite books and sites.
How Customers Think: Essential insights into the mind of the market - Gerald Zlatman
Thinkertoys (A handbook of business creativity) - Michael Michalko
A Whack on the Side of the Head- How you can be more creative - Roger Von Oech
Weird Ideas that Work: 11 1/2 practices for Promoting, Managing and Sustaining Innovation - Robert Sutton
Why Didn't I Think Of That? Think the unthinkable and achieve creative genius - Charles W. McCoy Jr.
Bill Myers Product Development Resource Center
http://www.bmyers.com/4. Use Tracking Links to Test Every Variable of Your Marketing
When you make a change to your web site test everything from the words to the background color to where you put pictures on the page to find out whether it reduces or increases response. Using the test results you'll know what works and what doesn't.
My favorite testing tool is the ad tracker feature that comes with my shopping/ecommerce software.
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/shopping.html
5. Get The Small Business Marketing Tools and Resources You Need to Succeed
Small Business Marketing Gold Special
Your Web Site Marketing Road Map
Your Marketing Plan
Your Marketing Message
A Marketing Mentor6. Work Less and Earn More
Go away more often with your family and/or friends. Every time I take a couple of days off I come back with new ideas for growing my business and with a clear head get twice the work done in half the time. I use an automated online delivery system so I make just as much from product sales when I'm away anyways. You can too.
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/shopping.htmlBest Wishes for a Prosperous 2006,
Charlie Cook
Marketing For Success
www.marketingforsuccess.com
203-637-1118
3 West End Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
/ Helping you get a better response, more clients
and more sales with your small business marketing //
Copyright 2006 by Charlie Cook of Marketing For Success
and In Mind Communications, LLC
